Filipino viewers can now watch the multi-awarded Filipino historical drama “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?” in clearer and better high definition (HD) format as its digitally restored and re-mastered version hits theaters this week and will be shown in seven cinemas in Metro Manila.

The 1976 Eddie Romero classic film topbilled by Christopher De Leon, Gloria Diaz, and Eddie Garcia will have its special screenings at SM City North EDSA, SM Megamall, SM Manila, SM Fairview, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Metroeast, and Market Market.

“Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?” is the third film restored by ABS-CBN Film Archives and Central Digital Laboratory, following the successful restorations of Ishmael Bernal’s “Himala” and Peque Gallaga’s “Oro Plata Mata.”

It tells the story of the simple-minded and naïve Kulas (Christopher De Leon) who begins his much-awaited trip to Manila. On his way to Manila, he mindlessly takes on the mission of retrieving a friar’s son and bringing him to the friar’s residence in Manila. Kulas also meets the ambitious and aspiring actress Diding (Gloria Diaz) to whom he falls for incessantly.

Upon arriving in Manila, Kulas learns of the lucrative reward he earned from the mission. With his new life, Kulas is trained by Tibor (Eddie Garcia) to be a full-pledged aristocrat: well-mannered and sophisticated. But despite the luxurious life he now leads, Kulas remains restless and discontented as he longs for nothing else but to win the heart of his beloved Diding and find his purpose in his newfound world.

Aside from the restoration process itself, ABS-CBN Film Archives made a milestone in the film industry, not just in the country but in Asia, by using a 360 degree marketing campaign to promote a digitally restored film and reintroducing it to the current audience as If it was brand new.

The restoration campaign was such a breakthrough that it served as a model for member archivists of the Southeast Asia-Pacific Audio Visual Archives Association (SEAPAVA) to replicate.

Just recently, the restoration campaign for “Himala” was recognized with a Philippine Quill Awards by the prestigious International Association of Business Communicators.

When asked what’s next for ABS-CBN Film Archives, head Leo Katigbak quipped, “We have quite a few titles in the pipeline for the classics though it is premature to announce them at this point as the priority may change depending on our plans. However, we have restored nearly 50 Star Cinema titles over the past year so hopefully, the audience will be able to see again the likes of “Got to Believe,” “Milan,” “Tanging Yaman,” “Dekada 70,” “Maalaala Mo Kaya,” “Sana Maulit Muli,” and many of the early STAR CINEMA titles in a new light.”

“Our restoration efforts aren’t also limited to older films though it seems it’s not appropriate to use the term for new films. We also did work on “The Mistress” and our version has been approved by I-TUNES making it another first for the Philippines, in HD no less. Our efforts are really designed to prepare our content, classics and modern, for the next generation of Filipinos. We have such a rich legacy and it’s a shame if we cannot share that,” he added.

ABS-CBN bagged the remaining rights to restore the Filipino classic from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts early this year. It took them four months for the actual manual restoration of the film.

For screening schedules of “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?” please check with the aforementioned malls. Also, watch out for “Ganito Kami Muli,” a documentary produced by Cinema One that sees through fully restored film in the eyes of young filmmakers, soon on ABS-CBN.